42 Best Restaurants in New South Wales, Australia

With windows overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Aria could easily rest on the laurels of its location. Instead, celebrity chef Matthew Moran creates a menu of extraordinary dishes that may be your best meal Down Under. It doesn't come cheap but fine fare rarely does, especially in Australia. This foodie favorite enjoyed a recent multimillion-dollar refurbishment, with the restaurant now being one of the most stylish in Sydney.

Balmoral Beach is blessed. Not only does it have an inviting sandy beach and great water views, but it also has one of the best eating strips north of the Harbour Bridge. Queen of the strip is Bathers' Pavilion, which includes a restaurant, café, and lavish private dining room. Here you'll find a menu packed with the best local ingredients no matter if you're dining for a casual breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. There's a choice of fresh light salads, wood-fired pizzas, and seafood dishes for around A$30. No reservations taken for the café.

One of Australia's most renowned chefs, Peter Gilmore, oversees the kitchen at possibly the most superbly situated dining room in town. Tucked into the side of the Opera House, the restaurant affords views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city lights. Gilmore's creations are as special as the view and showcase the best of Australia's produce with a focus on terroir. Whatever you do, leave room for dessert, with the cherry jam lamington, a clever interpretation of an Australian classic, which has been a constant on the menu for almost a decade. It's that good. Pretheater dining is available if you are going to a performance in the Opera House.

It's named after a cloud, but with its floor-to-ceiling-windows looking out on Cockle Bay, timber fencing (both on the floor and strung in different lengths from the ceiling) akin to what you might see in sand dunes, a suspended/flying vintage speedboat named Alvin, and perhaps the best and freshest seafood offerings in Sydney, Cirrus may as well be named for the sea it floats above. The five-course, degustation-style menu is very popular but the seafood platter of oysters, fat Skull Island prawns, strawberry clams, ocean bugs, and pipis (triangular clams) with seaweed mayo ponzu and red-wine vinaigrette is a must. The wine list is carefully curated and all about the white wines, with red limited to those light in body.

In this century-old farmhouse with distant views of Byron Bay the draw is upmarket Mod Oz cuisine blending Asian and Mediterranean flavors. Produce fresh from the owners' farm is featured on the lunch platter menu. Each platter is themed like "From The Hills," with a whole free range chicken "spatchcock" cooked in lemon and thyme, with a side of roasted potatoes and cauliflower. As the name suggests, the restaurant also has accommodations: the Dairy and the Sunrise House, two cottages with wonderful views, can both sleep up to eight people; prices are from A$600 a night in the holiday season of Christmas, January and Easter with a minimum stay of three nights. The restaurant and rooms are 5 km (3 miles) inland from Byron Bay at Ewingsdale.

This is a fine place to socialize with the locals and tourists and enjoy some honest, unpretentious food. The on-site Sunset Bar & Grill is open for dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and the menu includes a variety of roasts (such as roast chicken or lamb), steak with garlic butter, schnitzel, fish, and salads, plus pizza on Sunday nights. Friday night is the "big night out" on the island, when almost everyone turns up for the sunset barbecue—try the barbecue kingfish and grab an ice-cold beer. Desserts include what appears to be the island staple—sticky-date pudding—and ice cream. It's best to come early to take in the view over the golf links and the lagoon beyond. 

Thanks to its Sydney-standard food, wine, and service, Silk's still rates as one of the finest Blue Mountains restaurants after more than 20 years. The restaurant is housed in a Federation-era building, and in colder months a log fire warms the century-old simple but elegant interior, where yellow ocher walls reach from black-and-white checkerboard floor to sky-high ceiling. The menu here changes seasonally, with a minimum three courses dinner that costs A$75 on a Friday and A$85 on a Saturday. Only open for lunch on a Sunday, with a three course minimum costing A$75.

For almost 60 years, The Famous Berry Donut Van has been just that, a famous must-visit spot for those visiting Berry. The quality of their cinnamon doughnuts is unrivaled. They are made-to-order so are always piping hot. Collin and Shirley London toured the doughnut van around Australia in the 1960s but once they arrived in Berry, they decided it was home. Best bit? They're open every day from 9 am until 6 pm, come summer or winter.

Tucked beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge with views of the harbor and Sydney Olympic Pool, this is a popular restaurant for both lunch and dinner. And it is open seven days a week for both. The menu features a lot of fresh seafood, which you can pair with a choice of over 300 Australian wines. Reserve a balcony seat at sunset for a truly unforgettable experience.

The menu works around the restaurant's wood-fire oven and open-flame grill, with everything from hearty meats from local farms to seafood and smoked vegetables. The wine list is extensive, focusing on Australian wines from all corners of the country. 

Bondi is known for being the health epicenter of Sydney and, unsurprisingly, the cafés are all about packing as much healthy food into a dish as possible. Breakfast bowls packed with eggs, vegetables, toasted seeds, and gluten-free toast is a popular option here. There's also fresh juices, smoothies and kombucha, which most grab-to-go and take to the nearby grass bank opposite the beach.

Blackbird Café is great place to take a break while exploring Darling Harbour. The weekday lunch specials are all under A$20 and a good value. There are great views from the balcony, so try and nab a table there. The à la carte menu includes starters of haloumi and vegetable stack or grilled prawns and crab, and there's a wide range of pizza, pasta, burgers, and grills.

From its prime spot in Blue Mountains National Park, on a cliff overlooking the Jamison Valley, this spacious, mud-brick bistro serves simple, savory fare. Lovely brunch dishes include herbed mushrooms with a poached egg and roasted tomatoes on sourdough toast. For lunch, dig into hearty soups, beef pies, or cheese tartlet. Be sure to save room for the dessert cakes. An open balcony is a delight on warm days, and a fire blazes in the cooler months. A hiking trail from the bistro leads down into the Valley of the Waters, one of the splendors of the mountains. It's a wonderful pre- or postmeal walk.

Located at the Lord Howe Island Museum and Visitor’s Centre, this is a popular café with those exploring Lord Howe’s history. There's traditional bacon and eggs for breakfast and light salads for lunch. And it's licensed so you can enjoy a glass of wine at lunchtime. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. 

Found in Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, Darley's focuses on fine dining in a sophisticated setting that exudes old-school charm, with the walls covered in framed photos showing how the Blue Mountains have transformed over the years. The menu always features seafood, a meaty main, and caters to plant-based diets, with the likes of beetroot pastrami to start. There's a fixed three-course dinner menu costing A$135.

This friendly vibrant café is found just outside of Byron and is a firm favorite with locals. It's surrounded by a beautiful garden and native trees with plenty of birds. The focus here is on serving ethical coffee and only local produce. The menu is 100% vegetarian and vegan but even if you're a meat eater you won't feel like you're missing out. Each dish is created with care and packed with flavor. Open every day from 7:30 am.

At this cute, popular little pub in Paddington, chef Colin Fassnidge (an Irishman who emerged as the most controversial guest judge on Australian TV cooking show My Kitchen Rules ) has been wowing patrons for years with his shared dish for two of slow-braised lamb shoulder with kipfler potatoes, baby carrots, and salsa verde. His whole suckling pig is also a popular Sunday long-lunch treat. Starters and mains change monthly, and the restaurant's popularity has seen it open for lunch and dinner six days a week.

Named after the Golden Orb spiders that can be found in the owners' garden, this cozy diner is open daily for snacks and lunch. You'll find it tucked away along a little street not far from the visitor information center in Burnt Pine. Proprietors Jack and Caz serve traditional English fare, such as the ploughman's lunch (bread, cheese, pickles, and chutney) and hearty meat pies, along with tasty quiches and roast-pork wraps. If you simply want to unwind after a day's exploring with a book, drop in for excellent Campo coffee (with beans from a Sydney-based specialty roaster that sources its beans from around the world), and a cake—the locals suggest you try Aunty Dot's muesli slice.

Manned by a dog named Albert, and frequented by locals who declare it serves the best burger in town, this beach-vibe café has exactly what's needed after a full day of activities in Jervis Bay. This is a casual eats spot, for a great breakfast or lunch. Takeaway options available. No dinner service.

Housed inside the Hotel Mountain Heritage, the restaurant's large bay windows and balcony allows for the best views of the Blue Mountains mountain range and Jamison Valley. The menu is compact, with just three starters and three mains that change seasonally. But each dish is packed with flavor, with an eye on using local produce. There's a comprehensive selection of quality Australian wines available. Open for breakfast daily. Dinner is only served on Friday and Saturday, with a two course minimum costing A$59. Three courses at A$69.

Considered the best pie shop in the Blue Mountains National Park, just over 500 pies are served here every day. There’s 35 different pies to choose from. From traditional Aussie beef and cheese to vegetarian  and sweet, there’s a total of 40 pies to choose from. And baked fresh each morning. Coffee and huge milk shakes available. Seating inside and out.

Celeb-chef Matt Moran’s much-celebrated beachfront fish-and-chips offering is so much more than just standard fish-and-chips. The ocean views enhance a small and select seafood menu that includes fresh Sydney rock oysters, charcoal-grilled snapper, prawns, salmon, and whole fish of the day. The fancy fish fingers, fish burgers, and classic beer-battered fillets are musts.

Started as a specialty coffee creator, Pablo & Rusty opened a sit-down café back in 2010 and it has been a popular spot for coffee meetups ever since. The interiors are stylish and hip, there are single-origin espressos and sophisticated breakfasts and lunches. There's also outdoor seating.

Head chef Adam Shaw creates a brand-new menu every day, focusing on what produce is available from nearby farms. There's a set 6- or 10-course degustation menu, featuring meaty dishes like pork belly or slow-cooked lamb. And on Saturday, you can match the six-course degustation menu with bottomless bubbles for A$100. The outside courtyard is idyllic and the atmosphere inside is truly romantic. 

It might look like nothing more than a hole-in-the-wall but this modest café has been hailed by locals as serving the best coffee in the Potts Point and Kings Cross area. And the seating outside is always packed every morning of the week. To find it, you'll need to head down Llankelly Place, a back lane that runs behind Potts Point, that offers many unique cafés and restaurants. Easy grab'n'go eats and specialized coffee, with single origin option rotated weekly. More than a tiny opening crammed with tables that flow out onto Llankelly Place, this cozy café serves some of the best coffee in the Kings Cross area.

North Bondi Beach wouldn't be the same without Sean's Panaroma ("Sean's" to locals), perched on a slight rise a stone's throw from the famous beach. It's been there since the mid-1990s and owner Sean Moran loads his menu with fresh produce grown on his farm in the Blue Mountains, aptly named "Farm Panaroma." Dishes change regularly and are only featured on a blackboard: they may include baked blue-eye fish with roasted cauliflower, or a ravioli of zucchini, mozzarella, and lemons. The many fans in Sydney means it can be difficult to secure a table, and some the say the service is hit-and-miss (if not a bit arrogant), so be warned.

This swank estate ticks all the boxes. The restaurant offers farm-style fare in a rustic environment, with share plates, like the overflowing charcuterie. The menu is meat heavy but there are a few veggie options. The star of the show here is one of them, zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta and goat’s curd, drizzled with honey. This dish matches perfectly with the cellar's other star, its Semillon. But there’s no need to rush into the restaurant. There’s wine tasting at the cellar door, which can also be enjoyed before visiting the art gallery. There’a also an on-site bed-and-breakfast available, starting at A$225 a night, offering a cottage-style stay.

In 2019, this café opened Sydney's first self-serve batch-brew bar, with craft beer--style taps where you can drink as much single-origin coffee as your heart desires or can handle. But this is more than just an übertrendy spot for coffee: the menu is filled with quirky dishes, with many vegan offerings. The eggplant katsu roll is very popular.